Hello,

Glad to see you have these forums. I don't understand how HPV is transmitted, do you get it through fluids or skin contact, or what?

Hello Buddy,

Welcome! You can review basic HPV transmission information on our site at http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_hpv_facts.cfm.

Genital HPV is transmitted through skin to skin contact. This includes any genital to genital contact, as well as vaginal and anal sex.

HPV can exist on skin that condoms don't cover so there is still risk even with safer sex practices, but we recommend condom use as they are effective against a number of STIs and one study (R. Winer et. al) showed that using condoms consistently and correctly can sharply reduce HPV acquisition among females.

Hope this helps,
Fredo

Thanks!

What is the likelihood of transmission through oral sex? We are talking about genital warts, therefore, I would imagine that it would be impossible for transmission to occur through oral sex seeing as the disease is limited to the genital are. However, I believe I saw on the ASHA website they include their is the possibility of transmission through oral sex.

Does anyone know of where I can find more information on the transmission of HPV via oral sex?

Hey there Chris,

The exact risks of contracting HPV through oral sex are currently unknown, so there's not a "% chance" we can offer. It may well be possible to contract HPV through performing oral sex, though the mouth appears to be a less hospitable environment for HPV than the genital area. Each type of HPV tends to infect a specific skin area, making it much less likely for genital types of HPV to become established and create disease orally. Research shows that it is uncommon for HPV to be found in the mouth in the form of warts (or lesions). A common recommendation is not to perform oral sex on a partner with genital HPV while lesions are present, and consider using unlubricated latex condoms for all sex acts, including oral.

Best,
Fredo
HPV Board Moderator

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